This is the fourth and final of L’Engle’s Crosswick Journals. I skipped the third one (The Irrational Season) because it focuses on L’Engle’s relationship to Christianity, and I’m just not interested in that topic, even if it is L’Engle writing.

I’ve heard good things about this book, but have been reluctant to read it because I knew it was about a kid dying of cancer. I’m still a bit sensitive to a plot revolving around dying of cancer, having been diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago. However, I convinced Mr. Curiosity to read it (after he loved Eleanor and Park). As soon as he finished, he plopped the book in my lap and told me he’d found my next book. I try to respect his suggestions and read it on his recommendation.

I had no intention of reading this book right now, even though I loved Eleanor and Park. I’m trying to focus on finishing up my reading challenges, and Fangirl doesn’t help any of them. However, Mr. Curiosity got the book out of the library and read it in two days. When he finished, he gave it to me and told me I should read it because it was really good. I figure if I am going to recommend books to him that I hope he reads, I should read a book that he recommends to me. Plus, I had finished all my library books and had nothing on the docket, so it’s not like it was keeping me from something else I wanted to be reading.

Summary: Julia is a typical middle schooler, trying to fit in with the more popular kids at school. One day, the Earth mysteriously slows its spin and the days start lengthening. At first, everyone tries to adjust to the longer days, but the added minutes aren’t consistent and continue to lengthen the day. The world governments decide to revert to “clocktime”, while some people decide to go off the grid and live on “real time”. Everyone has to adjust to days lived in the dark and sleeping during white nights. Some people, including Julia’s mom, start to manifest symptoms of a disorder. Throughout all these physical disruptions, Julia’s trying to figure out a budding relationship with her crush, Seth, and the fact her old best friend has moved on.

Final thoughts: I was a bit disappointed with the book. I think the reason for my disappointment was I wanted to know more about the why of the science of the slowing, whereas the author focused more on the impact of the slowing on relationships and growing up. I wanted a science fiction book, but it was really a fiction book.

The story was told as a reminiscence about the initial time after the slowing. I kept forgetting how young Julia was in the story, because her voice was much older. There was lots of foreboding foreshadowing (“We didn’t know how good we had it” or “I didn’t know this was the last time…”), but very little payout on the foreshadowing.

Title comes from: At one point, Julia referred to middle school as the age of miracles, when kids grow into their potential.

Reading challenges fulfilled: 53/100 in my 100 Book Challenge.

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